Hello all,
Have been mostly silent for a long while but an interesting boat has come
along which I need some advice for. I am a huge fan of a flybridge, even
more so when combined with a pilothouse (ala 49' Defever) so have
concentrated boat search around those parameters. Well, one popped up on
radar which does not have a flybridge but otherwise seems ideal.
.
So question comes up....How practical is it to add a flybridge? I assume the
following are factors to consider.

• Will the boat still be stable? IOW, how will it affect the CG? I
  would certainly hire a marine architect/engineer to do the design and calcs
  but are there general rules as to what works and what doesn't? On a first
  glance, this boat looks like a natural for a FB. Seems to me that a
  flybridge is actually quite light in comparison to other things one might
  put up on a boat deck. BTW, the boat in question is nearly identical to a
  53' Defever flushdeck. Heavy FRP construction, 48,000 lbs, 4.5' Draft, 16'9"
  Beam, Single screw w/full keel (currently hollow but accessible for added
  weight)
• How complicated is the physical installation? Reinforcing of
  Pilothouse? Of decks? Adding second helm (controls are Morse and Hydraulic
  steering).
• Could it be built by most any accomplished FRP house? I'm thinking
  15-20K...is that overly optimistic?
  .
  What have I forgotten? Anybody done it? Good references to study? Flying to
  look at it this weekend.
  Thanks in advance,
  Joel Wilkins

<<How complicated is the physical installation?
Reinforcing of
Pilothouse? Of decks? Adding second helm (controls are

Morse and Hydraulic
steering).

• Could it be built by most any accomplished FRP
  house? I'm thinking
  15-20K...is that overly optimistic?>>

I've built two pilothouses of foam/glass, one over the
center cockpit of Winnie the Pooh, and one over the
flypridge of a Gulfstar 49 MY.  Neither required
adding controls or instruments.  Both are about 10'
wide by 14' long.  I didn't keep track of the hours to
do Pooh's pilothouse, but the cost of materials and
labor on the 49 Gulfstar came to $14k, including
custom made windows ($3k).

If you're thinking of an open flybridge with a bimini
top, I think your cost budget is about right
($15-20k).  There is unlikely to be a problem with
adding this weight on the pilothouse of the boat
you've described, if you don't get carried away with
the flybridge.  Keep it small, simple, and light.
There's unlikely to be any structural problem with the
weight on the roof, but it needs to be looked at.
Hydraulic steering makes the steering installation
much easier than mechanical steering would be.  Dual
station controls for the engine are expensive, but not
too difficult to add, depending on what's in the way
of the necessary routeing.  Good luck, and post us
some pix.

=====
Mark Richter, M.E., aboard M/V Winnie the Pooh,
custom Morgan 46 Pilothouse Efficiency Trawler.
"Mark's Mobile Marine" electrical systems repair & consulting.  Homeport Stuart, FL

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